Egg washer



Nov. 6, 1951 v .IR. DoLsoN ETAL 2,574,252

l EGG WASHER Filed May 1e, 1947 f 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Nov. 6, 1951 L. R. DoLsoN ETAL EGG WASHER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 16, 1947 j the arrows.

ing Referring 4now to Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE 4Ecru WASHER Leo R. Dolson and George Stone, Sebastopol, Calif.

Application May 16, 1947., serial No. 748,476

iclaims. (o1. 154-343) 1` This invention relates to an egg vwasher and cleaner, and more particularly to such a device adapted for the Washing and cleaning of eggs in commercial quantities.

"A primary object of this inventionfis the provision of an improved egg Washerand cleaner which may be readily operated by a single operator,and which will, in a single operation Wash, clean and dry a relatively large number of eggs. An additional object of the invention is the A provision of such a device wherein eggs are fed into one end of the device, and returned to the same end thereof for packing.

A further object ofv the invention is the provision of such a device, Vwhich due to its Aunique vvconstruction utilizing padded rollers., `operates with relatively small egg breakage. Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, .eflicient and reliable -in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture,

` assemble and utilize.

Still other objects reside vthe combination of elements, varrangement of parts, and features of of the device embodying. features .ofthe instant invention. y

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the `direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken vsubstantiall along :the line 3-.3 of Figure 6v as viewed the direction indicated'by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially "along the line 4-4 of Figure 6 .as viewed inthe 1 direction indicated by the arrows.

I Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure das rviewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional viewY taken substantially l along `the line of l6 6 of Figure 1 as VViewed in the direction indicated bythe arrows, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged Vfragmentary sectional view taken substantially `along tthe line 'l--T of Figure Bras viewed in the direction indicated by Similar reference characters refer 4to' similar parts throughout the several views ofthe draw- 'the V.drawings in detallljthe device of the instant invention comprises a rectangular body portion, generally indicated atl0, and carried by supporting legs il, l2, and I3. A shelf I 4 extending between supporting legs l2, and I3, is adapted to carry a suitable electric motor l5, which drives through suitable gearing I5, a belt il, which in turn drives other elements to be more, fully described hereinafter. Suspended beneath the body portionl is a supelemental cabinet I8, adapted .to contain Van electric heater and fan of any desired conventional type, such for example, as the .so-called Wessex heater. Access may be had to the heater through a hinged door I9.

Referring now particularly to the body portion lll, it will be seen, that, as .best shown in Figure 6 transverse .partitions 20 and 2| extend thereacross at spaced intervals from the-end of the body, and that a longitudinally extending partition 22 Vdivides the body into two longitudinal compartments. A padded helix 23 providing a screw conveyor is journaled for rotation in the end walls and 2l. and is provided at one extremity with a suitable pulley 24, adapted to be driven by the belt Il. A second helix 25 providing al screwconveyor oppositely disposed relative to helix 23 vis positioned in the other compartment, `and suitably journaled in the partitions 29 and 2 l. The side of the partition .22 ad- ;cent helix 23 is provided with padding material ,"Aciryingl roller 3.0 is provided in alignment with helix 25,` and in the same compartmentk therewith'. Helix 25 and drying roller 30 are adapted to be driven by means of a belt 3l, surrounding the stub axle extending through the partition 2|, and also surrounding the axle `32 of helix 23,( belt 3l also serving vas a conveyor belt, being provided with cleats 33 on the `outer surface thereof, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The apparatus is fully covered, and is provided A in its top with a single aperture 35 (see Figure 5) positioned between the helix 23 adjacent one end thereof and the padded partition 2 2, topermit the insertion of eggs thereinto. The compartment formed Surrounding thehelix 23 is adapted to be partially iilled with suitable cleaning fluid, disinfectant, and the like, and as Will be readily apparent an V,egg dropped thereinto is fed by the helix in the direction indicated .by the Aarrows ,in Figure 6 towards the opposite .end of `the compartment. At this end of the compartment a ramp `35 is provided which leads upwardly to the .conveyor belt 3|, an arcuate lguide rail 31 being provided to guide .eggs which pass up the ranip pose.

3 36 and through a suitable aperture in the partition 2| onto the belt, and from the belt to a downwardly extending ramp 38, which deposits them between the helix 25 and the drying roller 3U. The winding of the helix 25 being opposite to that of the helix 23, it will be seen that although the helices are rotated in the same direction the path of travel in the compartment containing helix 25 is opposite tovthat of the path of travel in the compartment containing helix 23. This latter compartment comprises a drying compartment, and is provided with an aperture 40 in the base thereof communicating with the compartment I8 containing a heater, through which warm dry air is blown into the compartment. The roll 30 may be covered with absorbent material, and thus expedite the drying of the eggs;

The end wall 20 provided with an aperture.A 4l, positioned between the helix 25 and the drying roller 3U, from which the washed and dried eggs are adapted to be deposited on a padded drying table 42 or the like, from which they may be readily transferred to cartons, or other desired localities.

From the foregoing the operation of the de` vice should now be readily understandable. A single operator may stand at the end of the machine, and position eggs individually through the aperture 35, into the cleaning tank, through which they will be fed by the helix to the ramp 36, and thence to the conveyor belt 3l, where they will be guided by the guide rail to the ramp 38 down into the drying tank, being fed gradually between the helix 25 and the drying roller 30 and out the outlet 4I, to the vdrying table, from which they may be readily removed for any desired pur- It will thus be seen that there is herein provided a compact, simple, eihcient unitary device for 'individually cleaning and drying eggs in a relatively rapid time, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

l. In an egg washer and dryer, a body portion including a receptacle having a longitudinally extending partition therein, and transverse partitions adjacent the opposite ends of the receptacle, said longitudinally extending partition dividing said receptacle into washing and drying compartments, parallel disposed egg guiding helices in each compartment and journalled at their opposite ends in said transverse partitions, said helices being oppositely spir-alled to convey eggs from one end of the receptacle to the other, and then back to the original end, a drying roller having an absorbent covering thereon journalled at its ends in the transverse partitions in the drying compartment in parallel relation to the s;

helix therein, a conveyor belt for conveying eggs from one compartment to the other in one end of said body outwardly of the transverse partition at that end, said belt having operational engagement with the ends of the helices and the end of the drying roller, means for rotating the helix in said washing compartment so that the rotation of said latter helix will, by means of the belt, cause simultaneous rotation of said helices and said roller, and said transverse partition adjacent said conveyor belt having apertures therein in alignment with the washing and drying compartments upwardly inclined ramps at the end of the helices adjacent the conveying belt for feeding the eggs onto the belt in alignment with the apertures in the transverse partition and receiving the eggs therefrom, an arcuate shaped guide rail overlapping the upper ends of the ramps and the u'apertures' in the transverse partition above the conveyor belt for guiding the eggs on the belt from one compartment to the other, resilient padded outer surfaces on said helices and cushioning means on the partition longitudinally dividing the receptacle to prevent damage to the eggs during the washing and drying thereof.

2. In an egg washer and cleaner, the combination which comprises an elongated horizontally disposed casing having a longitudinally disposed dividing partition extended therethrough providing a washing tank in one side and a drying compartment in the other, a layer of padding material on the side of the partition positioned in the tank, a screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the tank side of the casing and positioned whereby eggs carried thereby brush against the padded material on the partition, a rotary drying roll journaled I in the drying compartment of the casing, another screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the said drying compartment of the casing parallel'to the said drying roll and positioned to hold'eggs in wiping contact with the said drying roll, means rotating the said screw conveyers, and a transversely disposed feeder conveyor for feeding eggs from the tank to the screw conveyer irr the drying compartment of the casing.

3. In an egg washer and cleaner, the combination which comprises an elongated horizontally disposed casing having a longitudinally disposed dividing partition extended therethrough providing a washing tank in one side and a drying compartment in the other, a layer of padding material on the side of the partition positioned in the tank, a. screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the tank side of the casing and positioned whereby eggs carried thereby brush against the padded material on the partition, a rotary drying roll journaled in the drying compartmentof the casing, another screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the said drying compartment of the casing parallel to the' said drying roll and positioned to hold eggs in wiping contact with the said drying roll, a

transversely disposed feeder conveyer at one end of the casing positioned to receive eggs from the screw conveyer in the tank, guiding means positioned to coact with the said feeder conveyer for receiving eggs from the screw conveyer oi' the tank and delivering the said eggs to the screw conveyer of the drying compartment, and means rotating the said screw conveyers, feeder conveyer, and drying roll.

4. In an egg washer and cleaner, the combination which comprises an elongated horizontally disposed casing having a longitudinally disposed dividing partition extended therethrough providing a washing tank in one side and a drying compartment in the other, a layer of padding material on the side of the partition positioned in the tank, a screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the tank side of the casing and positioned whereby eggs carried thereby brush against the padded material on the partition, a rotary drying 'rolljournaled in the drying compartment of the casing, another screw conveyer having threads spaced to receive eggs journaled in the said drying compartment of the casing parallel to the said drying roll and positioned to hold eggs in wiping contact with the said drying roll, a transversely disposed feeder conveyer at one end of the casing positioned to receive eggs from the screw conveyer in the tank, guiding means positioned to coact with the said feeder conveyer for receiving eggs from the screw conveyer of the tank and delivering the said eggs to the screw conveyer of the drying compartment, said screw conveyers including padded rollers with spiral ribs thereon. means supplying heat to the said drying compartment, and means rotating the 15 said conveyers.

LEO R. DOLSON. GEORGE STONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 528,195 Warr Oct. 30, 1894 1,101,304 Maull June 23, 1914 1,530,415 Roussel Mar. 17, 1925 1,676,714 Smallidge July 10, 1928 Y 1,958,720 Schmidt May 15, 1934 2,295,918 Thomas Sept. 15, 1942 2,357,892 Grant Sept. 12, 1944 2,438,666 Hodson Mar. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,721 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1909 271,237 Great Britain May 26, 1927 

